The Possibilities of War: Montoneras and Guerrillas as Expressions of Political Mobilization during the War of Independence of Perú, 1820–22

"The Possibilities of War. Montoneras and Guerrillas as Expressions of Political Mobilization during the War of independence of Perú.1820-1822"

The historiography of the war of independence in Peru has considered montoneras and guerrillas in two ways. On the one hand, they have been seen as irrefutable evidence of the inclination that Peruvians had for independence. On the other hand, the montoneras have been characterized as auxiliary forces, who had a limited impact and, hence, a minor role in the war. This paper proposes, instead, that the guerrillas and montoneras were key players in the war, since this was not a contest of great battles, but rather, a war of resources. Thus, the war of independence was truly a civil war in which the Peruvians were unquestionable protagonists. Through the montoneras and guerrillas, Peruvians deployed strategies that allowed them to renegotiate relationships with authority and reach a political leadership that would last throughout the nineteenth century.